Figure-weaving attachment for dobby-looms.



No. 846,198. IPATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

J. A. GNOSS.

' FIGURE WEAVING ATTACHMENT FOR DOBBY LOOMS. APPLICATION FILED 81521 1. 6,1905.

5 plums-sum 1.

- Elm ji' t PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. J. A. (moss. FIGURE WE'AVING ATTACHMENT FOR DOBBY LOOMS APPLICATION rum) SEPT. g1, 1905.

.O O O .0 much. w w w I w 4 w 0 .0 O in. m /m w c O 9! 7 1 o 00 o w N O O f M l.| m m O O O O m w a l m 2. 0 m .0 C O n 0 M w. O 0 0 m o o o 1/ M m oooooo m aooooocoo 00090000 0 a I 7 r L q Reed No. 846.198. PATENTBD MAR. 5, 1907.

' J. A. GNOSS.

FIGURE WEAVING ATTACHMENT FOR DOBBY-LO OMS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1905.

38HEE'18-BEEET3.

wi memcq 84 8.4 gm; 8mm;

- means whereby an ordiriary dobby-loom but such a construction would be impractiof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new has not been adapted to do heretofore.

iIiNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIGURE-WEAVING ATTACHMENT.FOR DOBBY-LdONIS.

as. seams.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1.907.

Application filed September 6,1905- Serial No 277,229-

.lo auto/tom it may concern:

Be it known 'thatI, JosEF A. GNoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State and useful Improvements in Figure-Weaving Attachments for Bobby-Looms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the shed-forming mechanism of looms, and more particularly to means for weaving what are known as Warp effects, where the figure formed by the warp-threads is designed to come again into the same longitudinal position in the fabric only after two or more repeats of the figure have been formed on different transverse lines; Heretofore these warp efiects have required a Jacquard loom and. its accompanying cards in order to produce them; and the object of my invention is to provide such as the KnowlesCrompton loom, shown in general principle in Patent No. 666,787, of January 1, l901may do the work, which it My invention consists inmeans whereby a certain set or series of threads may be held in the upper shed of the loom, while the threads of another section or sections are being woven to form a figure.

IIeretofore dobby-looms have not been ada ted to weaving figures formed by Warp or iibating threads, unless the figures were, in transverse alinement each with the other. Patterns arranged as shown in Fig. 7 could not be woven on the ordinary dobby -loom, for the reason that during .all the time one set or series of figures is being woven the' threads of other sets require ,to be held out of the way in the upper shed. The figur hooks or harness-levers of a dobby-looni being each connected to a certain thread of each longitudinal line of figures, it follows that the raising of that lever would mean the lifting of all threads connected therewith, without distinction c'learacross the entire width of the fabric. It would be theoretieally possible to operate only a series of threads at a time and raise the others out of the way by doubling, tripling, or quadrupling the number of (lobby-levers, increasing the width of the pattern-chain to correspond;

cable, it would necessitate the use of too many heddle-framos and add to the complication of the mechanism enormously. it

looms now on the market, and it is to be understood that one of the objects of my invention is to adapt the ordinary dobby-loom of .say, twenty hooks, to the weaving of these warp effects without adding to the complication or changing in any manner the mechanism .hereof.

In: the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention as applied toan ordinary dobby-looin ofthe Know es-Crompton type, and therein Figure 1 is a' rear view of the upper part of a loom above the reed. Fig. 2 is a lon itudinal view, partly in section onan en arged scale,- of one of the section-frames. Fig. 3is a plan thereof. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line are of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the ground-warp and floatingwarp threads and the section-frame connection's. Fig. 6 is a diagram-illustrating the actionbf the section-frames. Fig. 7 is a plan of a pattern such as is designed to be woven onfdobbydooms by the use of iny invention.'

As my invention has nothing to do with the shuttle mechanism, driving-gears, &c., and as these are well known in the art, I have omitted themin several views.

In all the figures like numerals designate like parts.

frame, having upon its top the usual sets of sheaves 2, over which pass the usual. hai 1iess-cords to the heddles or harness-frames 2, which operate the warp-threads which form the ground of the fabric. dles may be connected to any of the ordinary forms of ground-harness.

'3 designates the harness or (lobby levers. These harness-levers are operated by any of the ordinary arrangements of raising and depressing j acksand knives, such as are shown in patent toVVyman, No. 666 ,7 87, of January 29, 190], and embodied in the Knowles- (Jrompton loom, the jacks in turn being actuatcd by the pins 4 4 of the pattern-chains 5 5. The harness or (lobby lever actuating -mechanism being well known and not a part would require also a change in the dobby- In the drawing, 2 designates the loom- I These hedbars of the loom-frame, and'6 are upwardly-',

inclined supports whose lower ends are at tached to the' lower frame and whose 11 per ends are supporti-d in the upper ends 0 the uprights 6 in any desired manner. Between to prevent any levcr from operating any but the supports '6 extend transverse rods 6, preferably of glass; over which pass the neckcords which connect the warp-threads with the harness-levers 3.

Supported rigidly within the frame of the loom are the four upright guide-rods 7. Two of the rods are at opposite ends ofthe rear frame-bar and two at the opposite ends of the front frame-bar. Mounted toslide up and. down on these guide-rods are the rectan gular section-frames I II III, whose use and construction form the principal feature of my invention.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and I, each frame preferably consists of two longitudinal sides 8 and. two end pieces 9. Each frame has at its ends the eyes 10, which pass over and slide upon the guideaiods 7. The inside face of the side pieces are grooved, as seen in the section, Fig. I, for the reception of the combo-rslips 11. To hold the comber-slips in place,

I provide the side pieces with vertical holes 10, through which enter pins 10, which pass through holes in that portion "of a coniber-slip which is inserted into the groove 10. It will thus be seen that any number of comber-slips desired may be used and that they may be adjusted to: any position along the frame necessitated by the pattern.

The section-frames are each about thirtysix inches long by four inches wide. There are as many of these frames as there are longitudinal figure-lines before a repeat. I have shown in Fig. 7 a pattern having three lines of laterally-displaccd figures before a longitudinal repeat, and I have therefore shown three section-frames I II III in the illustrations. These are arranged one above another in vertical alinement, and each controls the neck-cords to one series of transverse lines of figures. '.i.l1rough each. comberslip of the three section-frames pass the neckcords of each longitudinal line of warpthrcads. This will be clear from the diagram, Fig. 6. In this case I have shown only three sets or transverse lines of figures or "figures shifted in position three times be fore the first set is repeated, and for simplicity I have shown each figure as being formed by four warp or floating threads. There would be, therefore, four figure-levers in the dobby. From each lever would run as many rick-cords for taising the heating; threads as there were longitudinal lines of figures in the pattern. The neclr-cord for each lever would pass through its proper hole in one of the coinber-slips. Thus every eonibcr-slip in each section-frame would have passing through it a neck-cord from each one of the lovers. Now it is obvious that a lift of any lever would pull on all the melt-cords attached thereto and leave that particular thread in every one of the longitudinal lines of floating threads but in order one set of threads at a time I connect the neck cords to thc'seetion-frames as l'o-llowsz'No.

frame controls the neck-cord for the No. I line of figures, and it is provided with combcrslips which correspond with such lines. Through each of these CO1]'ll)1'-Sli]")5 the neckcords from each har.ness-lever pass to those warp-threads whichare to form the No. I line. of'figu-resi All these threads are knotted or-otherwise formed with a protuberance which istoo large to pass through the holes in. the comber-slip of section-fran1e I. N 0. II

frame controls the lifting of the neck-cords for the No. II line of figures, and its comberslips are placed to correspond with such line-that is, to one side of the comber-slips of N o. I frame or, in the ease shown, at onethird of the distance between the comberslips of No. I frame. The neclocords to the threads thatare to form the No. II line of figures pass down through the No. I frame between the com'b'er slips thereof and through the holes in the comber-slips of the No. II frame, being knotted above the comberslips, as above described. The neck-cords to the threads of the No. III line of figures pass down between the comber-slips of the Nos. I and II frames and through the holes in the comber-slips of the No.II1frame,being knotted above them in the same manner as here'- tofore described. It will be obvious now that when any of the frames are raised the comber-slip thereof will strike the knots of those neck-cords which pass through their holes and lift the neck-cords. lifting these neck-cords is to slacken them above the cornber-slips to such degree that as they are not taut the (lobby-levers do'not operate on them to lift, that portion of each neck-cord below the raised section-frames. If two of the frames are lifted and the. other left down, then the dobby-levers will only operate on these sets of warp-threads which pass through the mails of those neck-cords which are not lifted. The result will be that the sets of threads last referred to will be woveninto a figure and the other two sets will be raised into the upper shed and remain there as floating threads until their respective frames are lowered and'they in their turn are worked into the pattern.

In order to limit and regulate the amount of vertical movement of the section-frames, I provide the rods 7 with stops 7, which may be attached thereto by set-screws, as shown. If there are three section-frames, there will betwo stops on each rod, dividing the height of the rod into three s 'iaces', in each ol' which a section-frame play It is to be understood that there are many spaces as there are section-frames, each space to be sufficient to allow its sectionframe to lift suliicicntly to raise its particular set of pattern-threads into the upper The effect of shed when the frame is at the upper extremity of its movement.

In order to lift the frames, I carry harness-cards from the ends of each one over the sheaves 2 or, if desired, over the bars 6 ofthe inclined frame 6 to one of the levers of the dobby; If there are three frames, I use three of the dobby-levers or as many levers as there are frames. When one of these levers is moved, it raises the connected section-frame and holds it raised until the sectionframe pattern-pins allow itto be lowered. v The harness-levers for the body fabric, as before stated, may be 0 erated by the ordinary pattern-chain mec anism, whose chain itself is as broad as and operates the entire range of 'dobby-levers. As this, however, would necessitate that the pins for the sec- .tion-frame levers be repeated three times over in the length of the chain, I prefer to make the figure-lever and heddle-lifting patternchain 4 separate "from the section-frame I chain 4 and have it bear a relation to the 2 5 section-frame chain, as one to two, one to three, and one to four, depending upon whether the attern requires two, three, or four section ames. 'Inthe fi ures I have 1 shown three section-frames, an the patternchain 4 is therefore one-third the length of the chain 4. Thus the figure-pattern chain completes its cycle three times during each -revolution of the section-frame .and heddleactuating chain.- When the figure to be made is quite small, needing; say, only twenty picks for its fornation, one chain will be all that is necessary; but if the figure is displaced in its position three'times with thirty picks to the figlire-then the figure-chain must have ninety ins. ,With the double chain, however, the gure-chain has only thirty figure-pins to be set, and the chain which operates the sectionframes has ninety ins. As it is the setting of the figure-pins w ich is difficult, I save the labor necessary to set sixty figure-pins. Of course the larger the figure the larger the number. of picksgto it, the greater the number of levers used and the more times the figure is displaced the greater the saving of time in using separate figure and heddle and section frame chains. These chains used are exactly the same as those now used in dobby-looms, and exceptthat they are made in two longitudmal parts. Supposing the dobby to have twenty harness-levers and the figure requires fourteen levers to make it, fourteen of the levers will be connected to the neck-cords of the floating threads, one 60 lever to No.- I frame, one lever to No. II frame," one lever to No. III frame, t'wo levers will be used for the groundharness heddles,

and one lever will be empty. 1

The operation of myinvention will be 5 plain'i'rorn what has before. been stated Its advantages are many. It obviates the use of a Jacquard loom with all its complications and the making of the cards therefor.

It requires no change in the ordinary dobbya loom, and the frames can be attached thereto quiteeasily. The loom need not'be reduced in speed, and, indeed, the invention is specially applicable for high-speed looms. The construction is exceedlngly simple, cheaply made, and easily applied.

In addition to the above obvious advantages, it is to be noted that the space occupied by the figure neck-cords back of the eddles is only one and three-quarters inches deep. Heretofore while it has been possible to. weave small figures not displaced it required the use of from twelve to twenty heddles, which took up from eight to fourteen inches. As stated above, the use of my invention takes up less than two inches of space behind the groundheddles.

When it is desired to weave one line 'of figures and then raise the figure-threads into the upper shed while the ground is being woven, one section-frame may be used, can-. 0 gaging with all the figure-threads to hold them out of operation. By this means the length'of chain and the number of pins having to be set thereon to actuate the figure-levers may be'much reduced. 5

I do not wish to be limited to the exact form of section-frame I have shown, asby that term I'include any form of frame or board through which the neck-cords can pass.

My invention is slight in cost, easily applied..to any dobby-loom now on the market,

"reliable in its operation, and of great utility in figure-weaving).

Having descri ed my invention, what I r0 claimis- 1. In a loom, a set of neck-cords compris ing the cords for aotu ating those warp-threads which are to form an entire figure, a verti- ICO raise each one of the set of neck-cords but allowing the said cords to have free vertical movement themselves independent of the frame, mechanism for liftingsaid frame at intervals to lifttthe neck-cords to slacken the same above the lifted frame, and mechanism for raising and lowering theneck-cords independently of the said frame to form afigure, substantially as described. i 2. In a loom, a set of neck-cords compris- 1 20 ing the cords for actuating those Warp-threads which areto form an entire figure, a fertile cally-movable frame havin a comber-board through the holes of whic the neckcor.d s I ass, stops on said cords above the comher- Board incapable of passing through the holes of said board, mechanism for raising said. frame at intervals toengagewith said s tops to raisethe neck-cords and slackenthesame above the lifted frame, and mechanism for .1 0

I callyemovable frame engaging when lifted to r rrraising and lowering said neck-cords independently of the said frame to form a figure,

, substantially as described.

.5. 'l. he combination in a loom of a plurality of vertically-movable section-frames, two or more series of sets of neck-.eords each set comprising the cords for actuating the threads which are to form an entire figure and each attached to one of said sectionframes and to no other frame, means for lift ing said frames at intervals so as to slacken the attached cords above the lifted frame, and mechanism above said frames to which the neck-cords for all the frames are connected and by which said cords are raised and lowered at proper intravals to'forin a figure, suhstaotiall as described.

in loom, one or more series of sets of neck cords, each set comprising the cords for actuating the warp-threads which are to form an entire lit rm, and one or more vertically-movable frames, each frame engaging when lifted. to raise one series of 1'ieclc.ord

sets and one series only, but allow the said cords to have free vertical movement themselves independently of the frames, means for lifting each of said frames at intervals to lift the series of 11eckcords with which it engages to slacken the same above the lifted fran'ie, and nicans by which the neck-cords are raised and lowered independently of the frames at intervals to form a figure, substantially as described.

in a loom, one or more series of sets of neck-cords, each set comprising the cords for actu ating the warp-t]n'eadswhich are to form an entire figure, and one or more verticallyn'iovable frames, each frame engaging when lifted to raise one series of necl1-cord sets and one s 'ics only, but allow the said cords to have lree vertical movement then-iselves indepcridcntl of the frames, l'hcans for lifting each of said frames at intervals to lift the series of neck-cords with which it engages t0 slack-on the same above the lifted frame, figure-hooks above said frames to which the neck-cords of all the frames are attached and by which the neck-cords are raised and lowcred independent of the frames, and mechanismv for actuating the said hooks at intervals to raise one or more of the neck-cords of each set to form a figure, substantially as dc scribed.

(i. in a loom, a series of hcddlcs for raising: and lowering the warp-threwis for t he ground of the fabric to be woven, two or more series of sets of hunk-cords, each sci coinprising the cords for actuating the threads which are to form an entire figure, two or more vertically-- movable frames, each frame engaging to also one series of neck-word sets and one sclifting and lowering said groundwarp hed l .ihcn it is rai ed but allowing the i con of a to have free v rtuisal movement 1 independently of the frames, n'iechanism for scares dles when the frames are lowered, mechanism for lifting each of said frames at intervals to lift the series of sets of neck-cords with which it engages in order to slacken the same above the lifted frame, and mechanism whereby the single neck-cords are raised and lowered independently of the frame at intervals to form a figure, substantially as described. v

7. In a loom, two or more series of sets of neclecords each set comprising the cords for actuating those warp-threads which are to form an entire figure, a plurality of vertically-movable frames one above another eachframe having comber boards 'or slips therein through. which neck-cords of all sets pass, stops on the neck-cords, stops on each ncclecord of a set of neck-cords above the comber boards of one or another of the frames adapted to be engaged by the comberboard when its respective frame is raised, mechanism for lifting each of the frames at intervals to bear against the neclccord stock above it to lift the said. cords and slachen them above the lifted frame, and mechanism by which the said neck-cords are raised and lowered indepemlcnt of the frames to form a figure, substantially described.

8. ln a loom, a plurality of vertically movable section-frames one above another in the same plane, eomber boards or slips in each frame spaced apart from each other,

. eomber boards or slips of one frame being out of vertical alinement with the comber boards or slips of every other frame. two or more series of sets of neck-cords each set comprising the cords for actuating those warp,- threads which are to form an entire figure, the cords of each set passing; through the holes of a comber slip or board in one frame and through the spaces between the comberslips of the other frames, a stop on each neckcord above the comber-boards through which it passes and. adapted to he engaged by the comber-board when its frame is lifted, mechanism for lifting each of the frames at intervals to bear against the neck-cords and slackcn them above the lifted frame, and n'iechanisi'n by which the said neck-cords are raised and lowered independently of the frame trr form a figure, substantially described.

9. In a loom, two or more series of sets of neck-cords each set comprising the cords for actuating those warp-threads which are to form an entire figure, vertical guide mounted on the loom, two or more vertically-movable frames sliding on. said guide-bars and mounted one above another, stops on said guides for limiting the vertical movement of said frames, conihcr boards or slips in said frames through the holes of which the 11ocl-:-cords of all the sets of neck-cords pass, stops on each.

of the neck-cords of a set-above the cemberboards of one or another of the frames and see, res

adaptedto be engagedby the same when its respective frame is raised, mechamsm for lifting each of the frames at intervals to bear against the neck-cord stops above it to lift the said lifted frame, and. mechanism by which the neck-cords are raised and lowered independently of the frames to form a figure, substantially as described.

10. in a (lobby-loom, one or more series of sets of neck-cords each set comprising the cords 1" or actuating those warp-threads which are to form an entire figure, a plurality of verticallyrinovable frames one above ananother, each frame having comber boards or slips thereiirthro ugh which the neck-cords of all the sets of neck-cords pass, stops on each neck-cord of a set above the comberboards of one or another of the frames and adapted to be engaged by the same when its respective frame is raised, a plurality of figuredevers above the said frames, each lever connected with one of the neck-cords to each set to raise or lower the same to form a figure, two or more levers connected each to one of the section-frames to raise or-lowcr the same at proper intervals, and two or more levers attached to heddles for raising or lowering the threads of the groundavarp,

substantially as described.

11. In a (lobby-loom, one or more series of sets of neck-cords each set comprising the cords for actuating those warp-threads which are to form an entire figure, a plurality of vcrticallymovable framcs-one above another, each frame having comber boards or slips therein through which the neck-cords of all the sets of neclccords pass, stops on 1 each neck-cord of a set above the comberboards of one or another of the frames and adapted to be engaged by the same when its respective frame is raised, a pluralityof figurelovers above the said frames, each lever connected with one of the neck-cords of each set to raise or lower the same to form a figure, an inclined frame mounted upon the loom and having transverse rods over which the neckcords pass from the said figure-levers down and through the said frames, two or more levers connected each to one of the sectioncords and slacken them above the therein adapted to engage with the harness cords of a loom, and the ends of said comberslips fitting in the side grooves in the side pieces, and pins whereby the said comberslips may be held adjusted at anydesired point.

13. In a loom, one or more series of sets of neck-cords each set comprising the cords for actuating the warp-threads which are to form an entire figure, a plurality of vertically-movable frames, each frame engaging when lifted to raise one series of neck-cord sets and one series only, but allowing the *Sttld. cords to have free vertical movement themselves independently of the frames, harness-levers, one for each of said frames to lift the same at intervals to lift the series of neck-cords with which it engages to slacken the same above the lifted frame, figure harness-levers above said frames to each of which one of the neck-cords from each set is attached andby which one of the neckcords of each set is raised and lowered independently of the frames, and a double lever-actuating chain, one chain actuating the figure-lovers and the other chainactuating the said frame-raising levers, substantially as described.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of August, 1905. i

- JOSEF A. GNOSS.

Witnesses:

Warrior F. Bunnnnoon, Joan Learns. 

